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Survivors of Childhood Trauma: Rediscovering Meaning in Life

Trauma can prevent children from enjoying their youth and interfere with their chances to fully realize their potential as happy, healthy and fulfilled adults.

Some children are resilient and can bounce back from unhappy life events with zest and spirit, but many children do not pass through trauma unscathed. Aside from losing the chance to have a wonderful childhood, they can experience severe, lifelong effects on their emotional and physical health. Life can be difficult for survivors of trauma, but there is hope.

Childhood Trauma: What Is It?

Emotional trauma is caused by events that smash a child’s sense of confidence and safety and make them feel vulnerable and helpless. It is often associated with a bodily threat to life, but it can be anything that happens abruptly or repeatedly and makes them feel defenseless.

A child can be emotionally traumatized by a single event, such as an accident, a natural disaster, or a loss, or by an ongoing series of events, such as deliberate abuse and cruelty or exposure to intrusive medical procedures. Trauma can be caused by anything that brings extreme fear, grief, or pain, such as separation from a parent, bullying in school, a chronic medical condition, domestic abuse, or neglect. Children are particularly at risk when they are already under heavy stress.

When to Take Action

Some children may not readily show symptoms of trauma after a distressing experience. They may also react to these events in different ways; it is difficult to ascertain if the reaction is normal or not. When their behavior changes after trauma, it is helpful to bring the child to a counselor to have their condition properly assessed.

The symptoms of trauma can be emotional or physical. Emotional symptoms include denial, anger/irritability, sadness, hopelessness, confusion, self-blame, guilt and/or shame, excessive fears and anxiety, social withdrawal, and feeling disconnected. Some of the physical symptoms to watch out for are insomnia and bad dreams, lethargy, muscle tension, agitation, physical aches and pains, being startled easily, and fast heartbeat.

Why Is Healing Important?

Surviving traumatic events in childhood may not be enough to heal, particularly when the memory becomes emotional baggage that weighs one down.
According to Noam Shpancer of Psychology Today, “the notion that early trauma may be linked to psychological and behavioral problems in adult life is rather old news.” Shpancer enumerates the major reasons that childhood trauma needs to be addressed:

Childhood trauma can affect your emotional health. Numerous studies have shown a very compelling relationship between childhood trauma and adult emotional health. In fact, it is now considered “a major predictor—and causal agent—not only of neurotic-spectrum problems such as anxiety, depression and relationship issues, but also of physiological health outcomes (Felitti, 2002).”

It can affect the size and functionality of the brain. Early trauma can alter the development of some parts of the brain (such as the corpus callosum and hippocampus), affecting how they function in adulthood. This can make a person more vulnerable to emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety, drug use and alcoholism, and other medical conditions.

There is a higher risk of troubling behavior. There is a connection “between early trauma and subsequent patterns of maladaptive behavior,” which emphasizes an individual’s vulnerability to medical and emotional conditions. This is, however, also influenced by the gene-environment interaction. Thus, due to the complex nature of the trauma-trouble link, it isn’t easy to predict the outcomes after a trauma.

Engaging the Help of Professionals to Process Trauma

Living with the memory of a trauma can be painful and terrifying; it can take you back through the experience again and again. Addressing your trauma is important, and it’s not too late to do something about it. You can find therapists to help you if you call Carolina Counseling Services in Fayetteville, NC.

If you are having difficulty connecting with people, you feel emotionally and physically unwell, or you have developed a negative personality because of your traumatic childhood, there are ways to improve how you feel about yourself and your perception of life. One of the independently contracted therapists at Carolina Counseling Services in Fayetteville, NC, can offer you options to resolve the trauma issues and rediscover a better life that is meaningful and hopeful.

Confidential / Private Sessions

Carolina Counseling Services contracts independently with Licensed professional counselors/therapists/psychologists who provide a friendly, relaxed atmosphere to everyone. Carolina Counseling Services independently contracted therapists assist individuals, couples, families, and children with counseling services that will help put your life back on track. Working with both non military and military is a joy and the therapist you choose will be happy to assist you whether you are a "civilian", or if you are a dependent or retiree.

Counseling and Therapy are often used interchangeably in our English language. The same is true for Counselor and Therapist. It really doesn't matter which word you use. When you need help, it is best to talk to someone who is not only objective, but who has had lots of experience helping others who have been in similar situations as yourself. A friendly Counselor or Therapist who is trained, licensed and experienced is the one who can assist the most. You don't have to figure it out alone. All independently contracted therapists are licensed, friendly professionals. Call to schedule your appt now!

If we can't help you, we will be happy to refer you to someone who can. We look forward to assisting you!!!.